Improved tool for cutting off boiler-tubes



ATENT OFFICE.

D. M. NICHOLS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED TOOL FOR CUTTING OFF BOlLER-TUBES.A

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 53,325, dated March 20,1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, D. M. NICHOLS, of the city, county, and Stat-e oflYew York, have invented a new and Improved Tool for CuttingBoiler-Tubes 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, in which-Figure 1 `represents a side elevation of this invention. Fig. 2 isalongitudinal central section of the saine. Fig. 3 is a detachedlongitudinal section of the expanding sleeve. Fig. 4 is an end view ofthe same. Fig. 5 is a front view of the cutter-head detached. Fig. 6 isa rear view ot' the same. Fig. 7 is a detached elevation of the devicefor locking the feedwheel. Fig. S is a transverse section of the same.Fig. 9 is a front view of the feed-wheel detached. Fig. l* is a sideelevation of a modification of this tool. Fig. 2* is a longitudinalcentral section of the same. Fig. 3* is a detached end view of thecutter-head when the cutters are removed. Fig. 4* is a ,si mila-r viewof the saine with the cutters.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a tool which is intended for the purpose ofcutting boiler-tubes to the proper length, either before putting them intheir places or after putting them in and fastening one end. It isconstructed of a bar or shaft with a hole bored through its longitudinalcenter to receive the tightening-screw, and with a stationary andshifting cone, in combination with an expanding sleeve or any othersuitable expanding device, in such a manner that by the act of thetightening-screw on the shifting cone both ends of the sleeve areexpanded, and the bar or shaft can be secured or guided in a tubein acentral position ready for the operation of cutting. rIhe cutters aresecured in a head which is keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft, andwhich is provided with a true face, beyond which the cutters are set therequired distance, so as to determine the depth of the cut and to obtaina uniform feed with or without a positive Inotion.

A represents a bar or shaft of iron or other suitable material, which isprovided with a hole, a, extending throughout its longitudinal center,and made to receive t-he screw b, which is provided with a head, o, atone end, with a nut, d, at the opposite end, as shown particularly inFig. 2 of the drawings. The shaft A is furnished with a stationary cone,c, and with a shifting cone,f, and situated between these two cones isthe expanding sleeve B. This sleeve is made of iron or other suitablematerial, and itis furnished with slots g, cut in form opposite ends atsuitable distances apart, so that by causing the cones ef to enter itsends said sleeve is expanded, and if the shaft has been inserted into atube by the expanding sleeve it can be securely fastened in a concentricposition, or so arranged that it turns in said tube in the desiredcentral position.

The operation of expanding the sleeve is ef-- fected by turning the nutZ so that the head c of the screw b bears against the. vshifting cone j'and causes the same to enter the outer end of the sleeve, at the sametime forcing its inner end on the stationary cone e. rIhe shaft A may,however, be adjusted in thc proper position in the tube by other meansbesides this expanding sleeve; and I do not wish to confine myself tothe precise arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, but I reservethe right to use any suitable expanding device. Instead of one sleeve,for instance, two separate sleeves or rings might be arranged on theshaft a at suitable distances apart and made to expand by scrolls orbycams or other Ineans,

although I use, by preference, the sleeve shown in the drawings, as thesame forms a good bearing for the shaft, and is not liable to get out oforder.

The cutters h are secured in a cutter-head, O, which is irmly keyed orotherwise secured to the shaft A. This head is provided with a trueface, i, beyond which the cutting-edges ot' the cutters are made toproject just sufficient to cut to the desired depth, so that the samecannot take a heavier cut than desired, and that a uniform feed isobtained whether the feed be e'ected by a lever, weight, or spring, orby a positive power, such as a feed-screw, or by a ratchet-brace orother mechanism.

When the cutter-head is keyed directly to the shaft A, as shown in Figs.l* and 2t, the feed is effected by a lever bearing on the end of thesaid shaft, or the shaft may be provided with an extension capable ofreceivin g aratchet brace or other suitable mechanism; but in pra@ ticeI prefer to mount the cutter-head on a sleeve, D, (see Figs. l and 2,)which slides on the shaft A, and to which a feed motion is iniparted bya hand-wheel, E, which screws on the end of the shaft A, as shown. Inthis case the sleeve D is made hexagonal or otherwise so formed that asuitable wrench can he applied for turning the same, and on its outerend, next the feedwheel E, is lnounted a collar, F, which is providedwith a dog, j, that slides ill and out, and Which, When moved out, asshown in Fig. 2, catches into corresponding holes 7c in the feed-Wheel,so that said wheel is compelled to -turn with Ythe SleeveD andcutter-head, and an automatic feed is effected. NVhen the (logis movedback, the feed-Wheel turns independent of the sleeve, and it must beturned by hand in order to produce the desired feed.

The cutters are made with projecting lips Z, intended to strike thetube-sheet, ifa tubeis eut, when in its place, and to prevent theoperator from cutting 0E any more than desirable. In practice severalsizes of cutter-heads and expanding sleeves must be provided for tubesot' different diameter. If desired, the cutters may be so arranged thatthey cutfrom the inside instead ot' from the ends ot' the tubes.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The shaft A,provided with asuitable eX- panding or centering device, in combinationWith the cutter C and suitable t'eedin g device, all constructed andoperating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. YThe Vexpanding sleeve B, in combination with the stationary andshifting cones, and with the tightening-screw b and shaft A, constructedand operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

DAVID M. NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, C. L. ToPLIFF.

